T.J. Syner was featured on Inside College Hockey’s A-Z feature. I for one am also looking with interest to what Syner is capable of this season. He really is the goto guy for scoring and I think he still has room to elevate his game.
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Dick Baker has a brief recap of the team’s first scrimmage.
The Salem News has a mention of Shawn Saunders in their list of North Shore college players gearing up for the season.
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The Salem News also has a mention of Alex Berry, recently traded from Toronto to the Tampa Bay organization, in their listing of local players in the pros.
Lastly I’m sorry to report that Greg Mauldin has been reassigned by the Avalanche to Lake Erie of the AHL. I know I’ve been beating the “stay in school” drum all summer, but time for a final drum solo (for now). First off, Mauldin left for the pros under very unique circumstances, mostly surrounding the fact that the collective bargaining agreement was expiring and also that he felt the need to provide for his mother in the absence of his father who had passed away earlier in his life. Still, the way his pro career has played out is probably not what he had expected. After playing a handful of games for the Blue Jackets after his last UMass season in 2004, he has played in just one other NHL game (this past season for the Isles), despite some very strong seasons in the minor league. This is unfortunately the fate of a lot of very talented, but undersized, players Did James Marcou choose this fate instead of a senior year at UMass? Time will tell. I hope not.
Fear The Triangle - UMass Hockey Blog 
George
/ September 24, 2010Right on Rocks. Can’t beat this dead horse enough. I know it’s easier said than done and the money is seductive…….
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rocks22
/ September 24, 2010I’m sure it is. And I’m sure that the teams make all sorts of promises about playing up with the big team too. Unfortunately it doesn’t always happen.
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HazMatKat
/ September 25, 2010Just a word on Saunders here- don’t know if anyone caught this in the article on Saunders but here is a quote
“This year’s going to be a pretty good year. We have our starting goalie [Paul Dainton] back. I’ve been skating with him all summer and he looks really good,” said Shawn. “We’ve also got some pretty good quality freshmen coming in. A lot of the guys on the team are underrated. We have a lot of skilled guys who could step up at any point. ”
If this guy has this much of a positive attitude about the incoming freshman I think I can certainly give them the benefit of the doubt.
Counting down the days my friend!
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rocks22
/ September 27, 2010I’m certainly excited to see the freshmen. While we can expect a learning curve early I think there is enough talent in the class to fill in the need for scoring. The trick may be how well they play defense.
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HazMatKat
/ September 26, 2010Great articles on Masslive tonight.
Worcester AHL team has 3 more former UMass players added to roster
http://blog.masslive.com/umass-hockey/2010/09/three_former_umass_hockey_players_assigned_to_worcester.html
Braun plays first official NHL game
http://blog.masslive.com/umass-hockey/2010/09/former_umass_defenseman_justin_braun_plays_first_nhl_game_friday_night_for_san_jose.html#incart_rh
Welman scores goal In Minnesota Wild/Philly Flyers game
http://blog.masslive.com/umass-hockey/2010/09/umass_hockey_star_casey_wellman_scores_power-play_goal_for_minnesota_wild.html#incart_rh
Article on Syner and Czepiel
http://blog.masslive.com/umass-hockey/2010/09/tj_syner_and_kevin_czepiel_looking_good_for_umass_hockey_in_first_week_of_practice.html#incart_mrt
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rocks22
/ September 27, 2010Thanks Kat. I was away for the weekend and didn’t have a chance to post anything. Dick Baker has really increased his day to day coverage of the team.
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anonoymous
/ September 27, 2010any idea what lines are looking like early on in practice?
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rocks22
/ September 27, 2010Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get out to practice as hoped.
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